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Explore Symphonix: Summer 2010 News, Parties and Concerts
EXPLORE… the music
Opening Night Gala
On Tuesday, September 7, the Symphony’s 99th season launches in spectacular fashion, as Michael Tilson Thomas welcomes operatic superstar Jessye Norman. They’ll share the stage with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, performing such American classics as Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing). This year’s Opening Night Gala marks a significant moment in the Symphony’s history, celebrating the start of the 99th season – and anticipating the 100th anniversary just around the corner.
The Symphonix Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception in the South Light Court of City Hall, followed by a formal seated dinner in the North Light Court. With catering by McCalls and décor by Blueprint Studios, the Symphonix Dinner is a high-style prelude to the Gala concert for 400 young philanthropists and community leaders. Also before the concert, “30 & Under” ticketholders arrive will enjoy a sparkling wine reception to mingle in the grand lobbies of Davies Symphony Hall. Following the Gala performance, all guests have access to two after-parties inside City Hall and the tented pavilion on Grove Street. Until 12:30am guests will enjoy live entertainment by the Fundamentals and Jonathan Poretz and a Swingin’ Night at the Sands, dancing, complimentary cocktails, and hosted bites from San Francisco’s best restaurants.
While this event promises excitement, revelry, and extraordinary music making, it is more than just a celebration of what will be a spectacular Symphony season. The Opening Night Gala is a time-honored community tradition that directly benefits the San Francisco Symphony’s music and education programs. By attending Symphony events like the Opening Night Gala, you help to ensure that the Symphony continues to share music through our schools, engage the entire Bay Area community, cultivate the talent of young musicians, and deliver 220 memorable performances each year.
Symphonix Dinner Chairmen Kristen Harper and Maggie Hazelrig invite you to join them for what promises to be an unforgettable evening on September 7!
Tickets are almost sold out! Click here to purchase your tickets today or call the Volunteer Council at (415) 503-5500.
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Honorary Chairman
Genelle Relfe
Chairman
Emma Goltz
Symphonix Dinner Chairmen:
Kristen Leigh Harper & Maggie Kennelly Hazelrig
Launch Event Chair
Ye-Hui Lu
Symphonix Dinner Host Committee:
Katerina Hertzog Bohannon & Jeremiah Bohannon, Gwyneth Borden, Drexel Bradshaw & Alison Green, Jane Burkhard, Dominic Chan, Gia Colosi, Christopher Contos, Michelle Curtis, Roberta Economidis, Lisa Edwards & Samuel Leichman, Fati Farmanfarmaian, Makai Fisher & Vasken Sarkissian, Kelly Ann Grimes, Krista Mitzel Hankinson & Eric Hankinson, Ted Hazelrig, Kathryn Pellegrini Inglin & Damian Inglin, Myka & Russell Keil, Maggie Stack King, Anjelika Koulebakina, Libby Leffler, Joe Leveroni, Lisa Ligon, Nicholas Leone & Ashli Meske, Ye-Hui Lu, Carol Morganstern, Kelly & Ted Murphy, Manjula Jeyapalan-Noone & Patrick Noone, Michael & Alissa Pellegrini, Lillian Phan, Cameron Phleger, Scott Raymond, Raghu Shivaram, Alex Skillman, Lisa Spencer, Philip Spiegel, Zen St. Clair, Victoria Terheyden, Katie Van Blois
Symphonix 30 & Under Host Committee: Natasha Brookins, Sarah Burke, Sally Crocker, Amanda Coffe, Justin F. Fichelson, Susie Hall, Maureen Kennelly, Adam Loges, Candice Macario, Kathryn Harper Martin, Rebecca Miller, Lindsay Noren, Nina Oestlien, Jamie Ousman, Kirstyn Stark, Lindsay Vriavas, Valerie Winsell
DAVIES AFTER HOURS
Part performance, part soiree, Davies After Hours is a one-of-a-kind series that offers Symphonix members the opportunity to explore genres of popular music that reflect on the evening's classical program in a sophisticated, club-like atmosphere.
Symphonix members climbed to new heights
The June 11 Davies After Hours event was a sold-out success! Symphonix members gathered at Davies Symphony Hall to hear a Beethoven Violin Concerto, including a hosted intermission in the Green Room.
Following the second half of the performance, Symphonix members and their guests headed up to the Symphonix VIP area in on the top floor to take in the gorgeous city views while sipping sparkling wine and enjoying the post-performance music by Amy X Neuburg and the Cello ChiXtet.
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2010-11 Davies After Hours Concert Dates Announced!
Symphonix ticketholders to the following concerts are invited to enjoy a post-performance on the top floor of Davies Symphony Hall from the exclusive Symphonix VIP lounge:
October 15, 2010
Semyon Bychkov conducts Rachmaninoff and WaltonMarch 11, 2011
Kurt Masur conducts MendelssohnApril 15, 2011
Charles Dutoit and Gautier Capuçon
Details about the Davies After Hours performers to complement these concerts are coming soon!
To purchase tickets for the Davies After Hours concert, click here to purchase online, or order at the Box Office by calling (415) 864-6000 and use the promotion code SYMPHONIX10 to take advantage of exclusive Symphonix pricing. Symphonix has reserved limited Upper Orchestra seating available for each of the Davies After Hours concert dates.
EXPAND… your involvement
Orchestrating Community: Symphonix to Make Concerts for Kids a Reality – Again!
Symphonix is thrilled to sponsor the San Francisco Symphony’s Concerts for Kids Program again in 2010-2011! Last season, Symphonix was proud to bring 150 children from Horace Mann Middle School and DeMarillac Academy to attend the Symphony’s Concert for Kids series. This season, trained Symponoix volunteers will return to the classroom to teach a brief class to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students about the special musical program they will experience. Additional Symphonix members will chaperone the children to concert. More details coming soon!
Symphonix needs your help! Volunteers are needed to lead the students in a brief class prepared by the Symphony and Symphonix, and to chaperone the students to the concert. If you are interested in participating in this exciting opportunity to bring music to local schoolchildren, please email volunteer@sfsymphonix.org.
VOLUNTEER PROFILE: Dominic Chan
Hometown: Danville, California.
Lived in San Francisco: Two years in the Marina District.
Musical instrument?: The violin; I started taking lessons when I was three years old.
Unique perspective on the San Francisco Symphony: I was a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra for four seasons. I auditioned five times before being accepted during my freshman year in college. While I was a member we rehearsed every Saturday afternoon at Davies Symphony Hall.
The highlight of my time with the orchestra was our concert tour in Germany and the Czech Republic, where I had the opportunity to play at the Berlin Philharmonic – a concert-hall all musicians dream to perform in. Turns out, there is a bar backstage that serves the BEST sandwiches ever!! The performance itself was before an audience of 2,400, who gave us multiple standing ovations and three encores.
There is nothing like going on tour with your friends, sharing the gift of music to audiences in other countries, and the camaraderie that goes along with this experience. I’m very grateful to the Symphony for the opportunity to be a part of something so special.
Symphonix member since: August 2008
You’ve seen him volunteering at: Several membership parties, including Infusion Lounge, the Millennium Towers, and the Terrace at the W Hotel, as well as events like the Gala Preview Party at the Marc Hopkins Intercontinental.
Unique role with Symphonix: As Volunteer Chair, I’m responsible for organizing Symphonix members to volunteer at our events. This year, I was also involved with recruiting volunteers for the Symphony’s Concerts for Kids program – Symphonix was able to send 150 school children to the symphony!
The best part about being a Symphonix volunteer: You get to meet a lot of people, and everyone, from the membership to Board members, to the other volunteers has so much energy and excitement. Most importantly, as a volunteer I am directly involved in supporting one of the greatest cultural institutions in the world!
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
The Board of Directors would like to express its gratitude and highest appreciation to the following volunteers who assisted at Symphonix events between April 1, 2010 and August 15, 2010:
- Daniel Chen
- Kristi DeCaminada
- Lisa Edwards
- Krista Hankinson
- Lauren Scanlon
- Alice Wu
- Val Bantner
- Dominic Chan
- Gia Colosi
- Kristen Harper
- Maggie Hazelrig
- Joe Leveroni
- Lisa Ligon
- Ye-Hui Lu
- Carol Morganstern
- Zen St. Clair
If you are interested in volunteering at future events, email volunteer@sfsymphonix.org.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
We would like to thank our standout 2010 summer season in-kind sponsors who have donated their time, services, products, and space to support our efforts to fund music programs for children in San Francisco schools.
Donations of any kind are tax deductible and a great way to give back to the community. If you are interested making an in-kind donation, please contact Maggie Hazelrig at donations@sfsymphonix.org.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Join us in supporting the San Francisco Symphony and its programs that bring music education to 75,000 Bay Area children each year by becoming a corporate sponsor of Symphonix.
Symphonix provides you and your company access to San Francisco’s professional and social trendsetters who are dedicated to bringing the magic, and music, of the Symphony to Bay Area audiences, schoolchildren, and communities. We accomplish this through selling annual memberships, offering discounted concert tickets, providing hands-on volunteer opportunities, and hosting seasonal cocktail parties and signature events including The Black and White Ball and Opening Night Gala.
For more information, please email sponsorships@sfsymphonix.org.
EXCHANGE… with new and old friends
MEMBERSHIP PARTY AT THE W HOTEL TERRACE
Symphonix upped the ante on glamorous after-work affairs with a spectacular party held under a white tent on the Terrace at the W Hotel. Guests sipped sake cocktails were provided by Haamonii Shochu and nibbled on gourmet bites courtesy of the W.
Net proceeds benefit the San Francisco Symphony and its education and community programs, providing music education to over 75,000 Bay Area children each year.
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Symphonix loves our friends at Haamonii Shochu! |
Symphonix members and guests lounging at the W Terrace |
OPENING NIGHT GALA PREVIEW PARTY
Symphonix members and guests enjoyed a chic evening at the Fairmont Hotel’s Crown Room on Monday, July 19. Views of the Golden Gate Bridge were obscured by summer fog, but the Symphony-goers in attendance were treated to a front-row preview of the upcoming Opening Night Gala concert, while sipping champagne and nibbling hors d’oeuvres courtesy of the Fairmont.
Symphonix Dinner co-chairs Kristen Harper and Maggie Hazelrig engaged Assistant Conductor Donato Cabrera, French horn player Jessica Valeri, and Artistic Administrator Mark Williams In a lively discussion about the upcoming September 7 concert. The conversation ranged from the exciting lineup conductor Michael Tilson Thomas will be leading, which will include a rare West Coast performance by soloist Jessye Norman, to the three musicians shared experience of performing for the ballet - from below the stage, the graceful dancers sound like a charging herd of elephants!
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SYMPHONIX MEMBERSHIP
Don't forget to renew your Symphonix Membership!
Symphonix memberships are good for one calendar year from the day you join. Renew or join today to start taking advantage of the membership benefits. Join online or get in touch with our membership chairs at membership@sfsymphonix.org.
